"I’ve won two grands prix this year, and I’d love to double that by the end of the year!"

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes stars go in first practice around the futuristic Yas Marina Circuit at 9am on Friday, with qualifying starting at 1pm on Saturday.

In an official team video, the two British former F1 world champions give an exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into the season’s penultimate race of the season.

Hertfordshire-born Hamilton, 26, and Button discuss the challenges of competing in F1’s only day-night race, as well as explaining how the final two grands prix of 2011 will help them prepare for the 2012 season.

Both McLaren men finished on the podium in Abu Dhabi last year and Hamilton is looking to take the chequered flag on Sunday.

As Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership waits for an announcement on government funds which could be used to revamp Stevenage railway station and begin the transformation of the town centre, Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland has claimed it does not have the backing of millions of pounds of private funds it has suggested.